It seems as though tiling over the counter would be most cost-effective, but I wonder what it would cost to demo the whole darn blocky vanity and put in a simple slab, which would really open up the space, or find a modestly priced floating bathroom vanity, like one of the glossy white sink cabinets from IKEA, or maybe even this Caro vanity that resembles plywood (I had obsessed over a plywood floor for the condo before settling on the cork floor). A floating vanity rather than a simple slab, would be a better for storage, obviously.

It’s true that the bathroom is fairly traditional, certainly basic, with (now) white tile and white grout, and basic white porcelain tub with glass shower doors, but I don’t think it’s a matter of choosing traditional versus contemporary bathroom style, but rather mixing the elements for a simple, clean, with maybe even a hint of Scandinavian style.

You see a lot of the mismatched dining chair look in magazines and blogs, but really, how many real people do you know that live like that? Even if one half of a couple wanted to curate just the right chairs, the other would likely protest. I suppose there are some quirky beach houses, passed down and shared with extended families, that cultivate a mismatched dining chair ensemble by default.

One could however, get away with a more streamlined approach by choosing one style of chair, and using them in different colors. I used two each of white, charcoal, and robin’s egg blue Eames chairs for Meredith’s dining room; it looks really pretty and pulled together. It’s a fun look to do with chairs for the patio, where casual and fun are called for.

Mixing molded fiberglass Eames chairs is the most commonly seen execution, probably because they have long been available in a multitude of colors. But there are plenty of other options too. Or you could even start with pale wood chairs, and use paint to accent the legs, for a “dipped” look. Or mix woods or metals. Here are 16 dining rooms that use the same chair in different colors around the table.

Since the layout of home is very open, there are no actual walls to our kitchen. However, as I’ve mentioned, the walls of our kitchen banquette area are covered with artwork. And there’s plenty of art opposite the kitchen island too, on the walls surrounding the staircase and going down the stairs. Since I spend more time than I’d like at the kitchen sink, I hung one of my favorites, a painting by my friend Lee Essex Doyle, directly across from it, so at least I have a good view.

The Florida condo has a little self-contained kitchen. So far, there is no artwork in the kitchen. On the other hand, the walls are still covered in terrible nautical-themed wallpaper. (I think I finally found someone to take it down and paint this spring.) Note to self: Add art to the kitchen in Delray Beach. Here are 32 gorgeous kitchens, all with fine art and photography, for inspiration.

Chrome was the new brass, oil rubbed bronze the new chrome, brass the new bronze, and now, copper is the new brass. Seriously. I almost wonder if one man isn’t responsible for this predilection for copper: British product designer Tom Dixon. Tom Dixon’s copper shade pendant is everywhere. Everywhere. And, these copper pendant lamps look amazing, whether solo, in pairs, in triplicate, or hanging in a cluster. Most often, one finds the copper pendant over the dining table, but it adds dreamy lustre to a bedroom, and a bit of spark to a living room. And a copper pendant added to a white kitchen just makes the whole look. The copper looks equally as great with pastels as with earthy tones, blues, black, and minimalist whites. Here are 24 rooms with Tom Dixon’s copper pendants. Judge for yourself.

We spend summers at my husband’s family’s home in Cape Cod, and recently got a little condo in South Florida for sunshine doses during Boston winters. That pretty much (most definitely) means the travel budget is depleted. We don’t, have never, taken a grand family vacation. By contrast, our kids’ friends have travelled to some amazing destinations during school breaks (Israel, Tanzania, Norway, El Salvador, Paris, etc.). My kids have pointed out that they’ve never been out of the country, and have asked for “a trip to Canada, at least” just to say they have.

Spending thousands of dollars for the privilege (?) of spending 24/7 with family is not at the top of my list. On the other hand, I too wouldn’t mind a trip overseas, and who knows, maybe we’d even all get along and have fun. We thought, if we were to do this, we’d start off easy, with London. (After all, until just a few years ago, a family trip to Target was a challenge.)

Part of what makes travel hard, for me, is that I like a nice hotel. But that’s a huge budget-eater, especially for four. I was thinking about looking into rentals at short stay apartments in London. Does anyone have suggestions? What does this have to do with bedside sconces? Not much. While I was perusing one of those sites, I came across a photo with interesting placement of reading sconces.

When we built the house on the Cape, I installed slightly odd sconces in a guest room—ones that stick straight out above the bed. Not the best idea, as they get very hot and guests hit their heads when they sit up. That said, I applaud the efforts for trying sconces that go beyond the boring. Here are 20 bedside sconce ideas.